BRIGHTON PARK — A group of armed robbers is targeting pedestrians in Brighton Park and Back of the Yards, according to police.
At least five armed robberies occurred in the neighborhoods on Tuesday and Wednesday, police said in a community alert. In the incidents, a group of people, mostly men, walk up to their victims before demanding their belongings, police said. Some of the incidents happened minutes from each other and only blocks apart.
The incidents happened at:
• 5:31 a.m. Tuesday in the 5800 block of South Trumbull Avenue
• 5:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 5700 block of South Rockwell Avenue
• 4-4:15 a.m. Wednesday in the 4300 block of South Francisco Avenue
• 7:40-7:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 4900 block of South Hermitage Avenue
• 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 2600 block of West 44th Street
The offenders were driving a red or maroon car, possible a Dodge Caravan or a Nissan Rogue, police said. In one incident, a grey Town & Country van was observed at the scene, police said.
Police have said there are a number of robbers involved. In one incident, the robbers are believed to be a black man aged 18-20 and a Hispanic woman, police said.
Another incident had three robbers: a black man, a black woman aged 22-24 and weighing about 180 pounds, and another person aged 22-24, police said.
In one of the robberies, there were four black men: one aged 15-20 years and standing 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 and weighing between 170 and 190 pounds; one aged 15-20 with short, black hair; and the third and fourth 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9 and weighing 170-190 pounds.
One of the attacks was carried out by three black men, all of whom stood 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11, police said.
Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call area detectives at 312-747-8382.
